Blazers close in on playoff spot with win over Spokane

Mar 12, 2019 | 10:15 PM

KAMLOOPS — Less than a week ago the Blazers appeared to be out of the playoff picture.

But like ants at a picnic, they’re refusing to go away.

A 5-1 win over the Spokane Chiefs was their third win in a row.

HIGHLIGHTS: Blazers move closer to Rockets with lopsided home win

They came out blazing in the first period, and scored twice on 20 shots.

Orrin Centazzo unassisted off a Spokane turnover and Connor Zary on the power play.

Ryley Appelt scored his third of the season at 4:40 of the second to make it 3-0.

Spokane has the second best power play in the league, and took just five seconds to strike on the Chiefs first five on four with Los Angeles Kings prospect Jaret Anderson-Dolan beating Dylan Garand.

With seven seconds left in the period Orrin Centazzo scored his second of the game and the Blazers had a 4-1 lead after two.

POST GAME: Head coach Serge Lajoie talks about dominant 5-1 win

They added one more late in the third on Connor Zary’s second of the game on their season high 51st and final shot of the night for a 5-1 win.

“The message has been consistant from day one.” says head coach Serge Lajoie.   “Whether you want to call it buy in, or whether you want to call it execution — sometimes it just take a little longer.   Glad the season is 68 games so that we can really see the potential of this team.   Nice to see the guys putting it together even though it is this late in the season.   It allows us to inch that much closer to our goal of getting into the playoffs.”

POST GAME: Connor Zary excited to inch closer to Kelowna

What are the chances with three games left?

Two points behind Kelowna for the third place playoff in the B.C. Division, the Blazers host the Victoria Royals Wednesday night and then close out the season with two games against last place Prince George. The Rockets will face first-place Vancouver in two of their remaining three games.